Twenty-eight nonprofit organizations and community groups came together Tuesday, October 27, for the Clarke County Development Corporation’s (CCDC) annual Community Non-Profit Forum. The event once again provided an opportunity to recognize the organizations, volunteers and community leaders working to make Clarke County a better place to live, work and grow.
Since its founding in 2014, the Community Non-Profit Forum has become an annual tradition, providing local organizations with an opportunity to share their accomplishments, connect with one another and strengthen their impact throughout Clarke County.
The participating organizations represented a broad cross-section of community needs and interests, from supporting families and improving education to enhancing quality of life, promoting the arts and providing essential resources. Their work reflects the commitment and generosity of people who give their time and talents to make a difference.
During the event, CCDC Executive Director Andrew Clark recognized that many presenters were wearing multiple hats, serving two or even three organizations. He encouraged everyone to bring one additional person to their next community event, introduce them to local organizations and help build the next generation of volunteers and supporters.
Clarke Community Schools Ag Department Receives $5,000 Award
Clarke Community Schools Ag Department will use their $5,000 Grant Award to Expand opportunities for students throughout the program.
A highlight of the afternoon was the announcement of this year’s $5,000 grant drawing recipient: the Clarke Community Schools Ag Department, represented by instructor Brandi Boyd.
The department is expanding students’ understanding of agriculture and the many opportunities it offers. Beyond traditional farming, students are gaining hands-on experience with plant production, including flowers, herbs and spices, while exploring the possibility of meat production.
Just as importantly, the program incorporates practical business skills. Students consider pricing, market research, sales, marketing and profit margins as they develop and sell products. Boyd described how students researched prices at area retailers to determine what they could reasonably charge for their flowers while still making a profit and offering customers a fair value.
“I love to look at a challenge and then go, let’s see if we can find some funding. Let’s see if we can do this,” Boyd said.
Looking ahead, Boyd sees opportunities to connect students with additional real-world experiences, including concepts that could involve local businesses and community partner collaboration and connection.
The program also emphasizes professional communication, public speaking and career exploration, helping students recognize opportunities that extend well beyond traditional agricultural careers.
“There’s so much more here than you going back to farming,” Boyd said.
The $5,000 award will help the department explore additional resources and experiences to support its students and continue building the program.
Five Years of Investing in Community Organizations
This year marks the fifth consecutive year CCDC has awarded a $5,000 donation to one of the participating organizations through its annual drawing. Previous recipients include Toys for Christmas, Murray Development Corporation and the Clarke Community Schools Food Pantry.
While the drawing is a highlight, the value of the forum extends well beyond the financial award. Bringing 28 organizations together creates opportunities to share ideas, build relationships, increase awareness and identify ways to work together on behalf of the community.
This year’s gathering was one of CCDC’s most successful events in recent years, underscoring the important role local organizations play in Clarke County.
CCDC encourages other nonprofit and community organizations to participate in next year’s forum. The more organizations and community members involved, the stronger the connections and opportunities to make a difference.
For more information about CCDC and its community development initiatives, contact the Clarke County Development Corporation at info@clarkecountyiowa.com or (641) 342-2944.
